They allegedly found a quantity of methamphetamines on Cousins as well as some unidentified tablets.

Cousins, who became a father for the first time in September last year, was travelling to Esperance to undergo a drug rehabilitation program called Teen Challenge.

He was charged with drug possession with intent to sell or supply.

He was released late last night under bail conditions that stipulated he remain in Esperance, but he was allegedly caught trying to leave town today.

A clerk at the Esperance Magistrates Court said Cousins had since been released to an address in Perth on altered bail conditions.

The clerk said he was not in police custody and had been ordered to reappear in Perth Magistrates Court on April 2.

It is believed he had been undergoing rehab for the past month, but he had also recently been seen in Perth with his partner, Maylea Tinecheff, and their young baby, Bobby Ernest.

Cousins — who was a Brownlow Medallist in 2005 — played 238 games for the West Coast Eagles but was dumped in 2007.

He was admitted to a drug rehab centre on March 21 and his father made an emotional statement, saying: "Ben, you are not alone with this challenge. Your family, your friends, your fans and your footy club want you to overcome this issue."

Later in the year, Cousins was iarrested in the Perth suburb of Northbridge when police pulled him over while driving.

They searched his car and found prescription drugs and traces of ecstasy and cocaine on a $20 note. The Eagles sacked him the next day.

Cousins returned to AFL with the Richmond club in 2009, before retiring in 2010.

His ongoing struggle with addiction was broadcast in the controversial documentary — Such is Life: The Troubled Times of Ben Cousins.

His girlfriend gave birth to their son in September last year.

Earlier this year, Cousins was taken to hospital after falling at a rehab clinic.